A 69-year-old woman was taken to hospital with “life-changing” injuries after a hit and run in Havering-atte-Bower.

The lady was taken to the Royal London major trauma unit after the crash yesterday (Sunday, December 9) at around 5.10pm in North Road.

Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses and information about the hit and run, that left the lady with a broken pelvis, collarbone, leg and ankle.

The white BMW car made-off from the scene, turning left into Orange Tree Hill, then onto Broxhill Road.

At this stage, there have been no arrests.

Jenny Gwinn, 69, is the chair of the Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Society (HABCOS) and she said she heard a “sickening thud” when her friend was hit by the car.

She said: “It is awful, I ran straight over and saw her lying motionless in the middle of the road.

“I checked and she still had a pulse and someone else rang the police and for an ambulance.”

Jenny said that the woman was taken to hospital, and she has since spoken to the family who said that she has been left with serious injuries.

This is not the first time that a person has been hit by a car on North Road, and Jenny and hundreds of other residents have signed a petition for speed bumps and other precautionary action to be introduced to stop it happening again.

She said: “Does someone have to die first before something is done about this.

“It’s extremely dangerous with the school so close too.

“Hundreds of people have signed the petition and I just hope that people start to take note now.

“It was an awful night, we cancelled the Christmas carols because no-one was in the mood to sing, and we instead said prayers for her.

“I just hope she is okay.”

The Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), part of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, is investigating. Enquiries continue.

If you have any information about this incident, please call police on 101 quoting 5316/9DEC or the SCIU witness lines on 0208 597 4874.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you want to remain anonymous.